Ruth Negga is Going to Space

by Murtada

Ruth Negga has finally booked a movie post Loving. We’ve been waiting for an announcement on a new project for her long before she was Oscar nominated. Basically since Loving premiered to raves for her performance at Cannes in May of last year. It’s a performance we are especially enamored with, hence the impatient anticipation for a new film with her.

Negga is joining Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland in James Gray’s Ad Astra. The long in development project is a sci-fi adventure about a man’s journey across the solar system to find his missing father, a renegade scientist who might be a threat in a futuristic lawless environment. Pitt is the lead and Jones plays his father. Negga’s part is being kept secret which is a good sign since if she was playing the wife/girlfriend they’d be no need for the secrecy. Gray recently was able to beautifully frame another actress known for having a very expressive face; Marion Cotillard in The Immigrant. So we are excited for this collaboration.

Gray was also praised for coaxing óut of Charlie Hunman a performance unlike any other he’s given, in The Lost City of Z. This writer was even more impressed with Sienna Miller in the same movie, who managed to elevate the smallish part of the wife into something truly memorable. What is your favorite performance in a Gray film?

More Tarantino Bloodshed Coming

Chris here. Quentin Tarantino has begun to lineup his next film to shoot next year, and it could be even bloodier than his divisive Hateful Eight if the subject matter is any indication. Hold on to your stomachs, the provacateur will next be tackling the Manson murders.

While this seemingly won't appease anyone put off by Hateful's gruesome antics, the potential for something great is there and Tarantino reportedly does have a unique take on the material yet to be revealed. Per his previous comments, this looks to be his penultimate film, but I'm guessing that that's actually as likely as that "unique take" being a tamer vision regarding onscreen bloodshed. My first guess is that like Inglourious Basterds before it, Tarantino will be doing a bit of revisionist history with the details of Charles Manson's enacted violence.

Casting is already promising some major talent, with reportedly approached stars including Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, Samuel L. Jackson, and Margot Robbie. Details are sparse on what roles could be attached to each star, aside from Robbie possibly playing Sharon Tate. We'll see what Tarantino's take is on the story and what the ensemble might actually shape up like - but (should it come to be) doesn't Pitt as Manson already sound like a fascinating choice?

Beauty Break: A National Treasure in National Parks

Brad Pitt recently opened up to GQ in a lengthy interview about divorce, drinking, therapy, and his new film War Machine. Interviews like this, which get so personal, are always a a bit of a strange experience if you love movie stars. Should you voraciously read everything about your favorite stars or let the work speak for itself and give their mystique some space to work? 

I've never sold that question for myself so I read lengthy profiles/interviews quite erratically.

But one thing that offers pleasure without any such confusion is looking at photos of beautiful stars. So here are some gorgeous pictures of National Treasure Brad Pitt in three of our National Parks, along with a few key quotes from the interviews. Did you know what Brad's favorite among his own films is? It's not what I expected.

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David Fincher Enlists For "World War Z 2"

Chris here. Looks like the sequel to 2013 surprise megahit (and famously troubled production) World War Z is finally a go - and just landed some major directorial heft. After many rumors of star Brad Pitt's wooing the director were shrugged off, David Fincher is signing on to the film. 

Already some Fincher fans and stuffy types are turning up their noses at the news, but it is a potentially inspired choice...

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'a good Samaritan'